I add points to Indian martial arts.

The next morning, Li Wei woke up early. As soon as he got up, two maids came in, each carrying a plate. One plate had a yellow copper dish with a small cup of salt water on it, and the other plate had "Nim branches," which were similar to toothbrushes.

"Salma, you're awake. Please wash up." The two maids said respectfully. Seeing this, Li Wei couldn't help but sigh. This life is a bit decadent. To have maids serving you so early in the morning. He never dared to imagine such a life in his previous life.

After saying a few words and dismissing the two maids, Livi picked up the salt water from the copper dish and the nimu twig from another dish and began brushing his teeth. The nimu twig was a type of toothbrush-like object in ancient India.

The Nim tree has antibacterial properties; its branches spread out, and the internal fibers form natural bristles that also have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

It's pretty good. Li Wei tried brushing his teeth with this special toothbrush. Although it wasn't as comfortable as the toothbrush from his previous life, it was already quite good for the living environment in ancient times.

After he finished brushing his teeth, two maids brought him breakfast. The breakfast was simple: a chapati, which is a wheat pancake, and a Darcy, which is a slightly fermented yogurt.

Upon seeing these two items, Li Wei could only conclude that his "father-in-law" was wealthier than he had imagined; in ancient India, not everyone could afford to eat these two things.

In my memory, his father-in-law was not only a major landowner in the village, but also owned several shops and businesses in the nearby town of Tuli, making him a wealthy merchant.

It can only be said that the Brahmin's status was still very strong. He had nothing, but when he came here, people gave him a daughter and treated him very well.

"Not bad, looks quite clean and hygienic." Li Wei tried a bite of the chapati, it was quite crunchy. His father-in-law didn't eat with him. In this world, Brahmins generally don't eat at the same table with people of lower castes. Perhaps that's why Laka had his maid serve him food alone.

"After dinner, I need to talk to Laka about something." While munching on a wheat pancake, Li Wei was thinking about something. In fact, he had been thinking about the same question since he woke up this morning.

That is, what path should he take in the future?

Clearly, with the panel, his future is bright; he just needs to wait quietly for a month. Once he has collected the faith power of Tuka Village, he can officially complete the Vanpi. So, what does he need to do?

Li Wei felt he needed to work harder, and he wasn't joking.

With the panel, the Great Power that Li Wei obtained was very pure, and his strength increased very quickly. However, there was one thing that Great Power could not enhance, and that was martial arts.

Thinking of this, Li Wei sighed again that the original owner was not only lacking in talent, but also extremely lazy. The original owner's family's martial art, the Naga Eight Steps, was a forbidden martial art passed down from the ancient pagoda family, but the original owner found practicing it too tiring and stopped practicing it after only two or three times. The Naga Eight Steps has eight levels, and the original owner was still just getting started with the first level.

Li Wei couldn't help but shake his head. He thought to himself that if two people with the strength of one elephant were to fight, the one with better martial arts skills could easily defeat the one with worse skills. It was like two adult men, one with a knife and the other with a wooden stick; the one with the knife could easily defeat the one with the wooden stick.

Martial arts skills are like weapons in a person's hands. A person needs weapons to exert their power. The more refined the weapon is, the stronger the combat power will be.

To give an example, reaching the first level of Naga Eight Steps is like Li Wei wielding a peerless sword in a duel. Right now, Li Wei is just holding a wooden stick. Reaching the second level of Naga Eight Steps is like Li Wei wielding a Barrett sniper rifle in a duel.

Reaching the third level of the Naga Eight Steps means Li Wei is practically driving a tank.

"So I must master martial arts, otherwise it would be ridiculous if I, with the power of five elements, were defeated by someone with the power of three elements." Li Wei thought to himself. In his memory, due to the difference in martial arts skills, it was common in this world for people with high elemental power to be defeated by people with low elemental power.

……

Half an incense stick later, after Li Wei finished his meal, he asked one of the maids to tidy up the place, and then asked another maid to take him to find Laka.

The issue he discussed with Raka was that Raka should help him find an empty courtyard where no one would bother him.

The Naga Eight Steps is a comprehensive martial art that combines leg techniques, fist techniques, and palm techniques. It is quite noisy to practice, so he wanted to find a large, open courtyard to practice in.

Otherwise, he was afraid that if he practiced at Laka's house, he would tear it down.

Soon, the maid led him to the main house, where Raka was having dinner with his entire family.

Laka's three wives, two seven- or eight-year-old sons, and a four-year-old daughter were all present, but Suleisa was not. She was probably still in bed or had something else to do.

The eldest son was also absent; Li Wei heard that he was in Tuli Town helping Laka manage his shops and businesses.

Upon seeing Li Wei arrive, Laka immediately stood up respectfully. His three wives also stood up cautiously, wanting to bow. The children, perhaps not understanding what was happening, remained seated, especially the four-year-old daughter, whose bright eyes were fixed on Li Wei.

"Salma, what brings you here?" Laka said respectfully. His three wives also bowed respectfully, and one of them even prepared to pull her three children up to bow as well.

Li Wei waved his hand, indicating that there was no need for formalities. He went straight to the point and told Laka his purpose: he needed an empty courtyard to hone his martial arts skills.

Upon hearing Li Wei's words, Laka pondered briefly. In his memory, his son-in-law was a typical Brahmin nobleman. Although he had fallen on hard times, he still had some of the usual bad habits, such as living a life of extravagance. In the ten days since he met Li Wei, he had given him a lot of money.

For example, he was lazy. In the past ten days, he had not seen Li Wei practice martial arts. This was indeed a very obvious style of the Brahmin nobles. Most of them were used to enjoying themselves from childhood, and practicing martial arts was too hard.

Like the nearby Ganka, I heard that even though he has occupied several villages and has become a local tyrant, he still lives like an ascetic every day, practicing martial arts and strengthening his body.

Today, Li Wei suddenly asked him for a courtyard to practice martial arts, which greatly surprised Laka. He was still thinking about supporting Li Wei, this parasite, for the rest of his life.

Is his son-in-law about to make a name for himself?

But that's fine too, since Suleisa is going to marry him, it's good for her son-in-law to be ambitious.

"Salma, I have an empty yard next door. It's a good place for you to hone your martial arts skills." As he spoke, Raka took a brass key out of his pocket. Levi thanked him and took the key.

……

The courtyard was very empty and large, which was Li Wei's first impression upon entering. It was indeed a suitable place for him to hone his Naga Eight Steps.

Taking a deep breath, Li Wei stood in the center of the courtyard, his shadow shrinking into a small ball at his feet, and began practicing the Naga Eight Steps.

"Ong...Kappa..."

Li Wei took a deep breath, his chest expanded, and then he slowly exhaled, clearing away all his distracting thoughts with his breath. In his mind, three diagrams depicting distorted human bodies appeared one after another—each diagram was like a scene from a mythology, with a colossal serpent rising from the sky, its feet resting on countless giant skeletons and mythical creatures.

This is his family's inherited Naga Eight Steps, only three parts of which have been passed down; the complete version has eight parts.

It is said that the Naga Eight Steps were modeled after the scene of King Nitoman of the Naga clan fighting against the heavens.

In mythology, besides Tusa, the Naga race also gave birth to another king, Nitoman. If Tusa represents order, then Nitoman himself is a subversion of heaven and earth. Legend has it that at the end of the mythological era, Nitoman rose up against the heavens, took nine steps toward the sky, and killed countless mythical creatures. His ultimate goal was to kill Brahma and recreate a new world. Unfortunately, Nitoman did not complete the ninth step and failed, and was killed by Brahma.

The eight complete images of the Naga Eight Steps depict a mythical scene from the late mythological era, where Nidoman defies the heavens, taking eight steps in a row to try and destroy Brahma.

The first image shows the giant serpent that fought against the heavens taking a step forward, and beneath its body, a bronze giant covered in lightning and blood falls down.

Now, Li Wei began practicing the first step of the Naga's training.

Naga's first step, Thunder of Wrath!

Li Wei bent his knees slightly, lowered his body, and squatted down. This seemingly simple posture required his thighs to be parallel to the ground, his spine to be slightly arched like a bowstring, and his neck to remain upright while looking straight ahead. In just three breaths, his quadriceps, which had never been subjected to such a load before, began to tremble as if burning. Sweat instantly seeped from his forehead.

But Li Wei persevered, and after a moment, he faintly heard tiny crackling sounds of lightning crackling all over his skin. At that moment, his body was in excruciating pain.

But Li Wei knew he had to persevere. Legend had it that once the first step of the Naga was mastered, a warrior would take that first step, and a sky full of lightning would descend to obliterate the enemy.

After holding this position for about two incense sticks' time, Li Wei's left foot, like a snake's head probing the way, silently slid forward half a foot. It wasn't a step, but a "glide." His sole remained firmly on the ground, using the delicate tendons in his calf and ankle to control the movement, shifting his body weight forward extremely slowly. His right leg, like the "snake's body," followed silently, leaving a damp trail of sweat on the dry earth. With this step, Li Wei felt every ligament in his ankle screaming.

At that very moment, as he stepped forward with his left foot, Li Wei's blood surged, eventually unleashing a thunderous roar. In his mind's eye, Li Wei saw a tightly closed acupoint on his body, which was crackling with lightning. It seemed that a bronze giant holding a lightning spear resided in the center of the acupoint.

Li Wei had a feeling that if he continued to practice the Naga Eight Steps day after day, he could break through this acupoint and then he would be able to control the power of lightning.

"Hold on, hold on!" Li Wei practiced a palm strike and several leg poses in succession. Each pose caused him great pain, but he also knew that with the practice of these poses, his body seemed to be accumulating a force to impact that acupoint.

One lap complete.

Li Wei was so exhausted that he knelt on one knee, sweat dripping from his chin and nose like a stream, making a "hiss" sound on the scalding mud, leaving a dark dot before evaporating completely.

He now understands why the original owner stopped training; for some people, it was indeed tiring.

But this was alright for him. In his previous life, he was a typical small-town exam-taker. He studied hard for more than ten years, finally got into university, and then worked overtime day and night after graduation.

For Li Wei, the hardship was nothing; what mattered was that you gave him hope.

"Effort can increase strength, which is great for me." Li Wei lay on the ground. He was exhausted, but he felt a sense of satisfaction. After practicing the first step of the Naga completely, he could clearly feel that the power accumulating in his body to impact the acupoints was stronger. Although the increase was not obvious, it was accumulating nonetheless.

Even if you work hard day and night in your past life, you still can't earn much money.

Compared to all of these, it's great that there are already results from practicing martial arts now.

Li Wei lay on the ground, looking at the sky. In his previous life, his senior year of high school was the most difficult period of his life. He would get up at five o'clock every day and study day and night. But at that time, he did not feel bitter. He probably thought that he had a chance to get into a prestigious university and find a good job in the future.

Later, when he started working, he felt the workload wasn't as intense as his senior year of high school, and he could sleep until 7 a.m. every day. Although there was overtime, it wasn't too bad, and the intensity wasn't too high, but he always felt extremely tired during that period. He felt like a zombie every day, and he probably felt that there was no hope left in life.

And now...

Li Wei suddenly smiled. Life was so good now. He thought of a phrase: "My future is bright..."

After resting for a while, Li Wei stood up, ready to practice the first step of the Naga again, but he stopped just as he was about to start the movement, because the light blue panel in front of him reappeared.

[Experience points +1]

【Naga Eight Steps lv1 (1/10)】

Each practice session grants one experience point; ten levels constitute one level.

"Damn, my panel has the effect of rewarding hard work?" Li Wei stared at the panel for a moment in surprise.

……

While Li Wei was practicing martial arts after getting the key, Laka instructed the maid to call Miss Suleza over. The maid said that Miss Suleza was doing morning prayers. Laka pondered for a moment and then went to Suleza's room himself.

Laka entered Suleza's room. Inside, Suleza sat on a rug in a meditative posture. She had just finished her morning prayers, and the sambal on her forehead had not yet been applied. Her face was pure white after being washed with clean water, without a trace of extra expression, like an unpainted sandalwood goddess statue.

"Li Wei is in the next yard." Laka's voice was deep, with the shrewd glint of a merchant making an appraisal. "The physical pain of martial arts training is precisely when the mind is relaxed. Showing him concern is a good time to cultivate a relationship."

Suleisa remained silent, simply turning her head to the side. Morning light streamed through the window, illuminating her captivating emerald-green eyes. She gazed quietly at her father, then nodded slightly, offering a minimalist Anjali (hands together in prayer) to indicate that she had heard.

"A moment's concern is worth more than a thousand mantras on ordinary days." Laka took a half step forward, disliking his daughter's overly calm attitude.

"I know, Father," Suleisa said softly, then stood up, bowed to her father, and left her room.

Watching her daughter's retreating figure, Laka sighed.

……

Suleisa walked out of her house, down the shadowy corridor, and out of the door with a blank expression.

As she approached the gate of the courtyard where Li Wei practiced martial arts, Suleisa looked up and the sunlight shone on her face.

With one step, she walked to the door, the shadow of the courtyard wall falling on her. With two steps, she pushed open the door, intending to step into the courtyard, and the shadow in front of the courtyard completely enveloped her.

And it was also the moment she stepped into the courtyard—

It was as if an unseen celestial maiden had infused every inch of her body with the passion that had been cultivated a thousand times in Gurukul (the monastery). Her expressionless, pale face was instantly dyed with the rosy glow of dawn, not from makeup, but from the natural flush of her blood and qi as her will was stirred.

Her tightly pursed lips, tinged with melancholy, lifted in a smile—not a gaudy one, but the epitome of grace described in "On Dance"—reserved, sweet, and with the shyness of morning dew.

Most astonishing were those bewitching emerald green eyes. One moment they were lifeless and still, but the next, all that stillness melted away in the light of the butter lamp, transforming into two pools of water reflecting spring, brimming with piety and tender concern as they shimmered. Sunlight streamed into them, like the golden moon shimmering in the music of Krishnamurti's flute.

The slightly worn, pale yellow cotton sari she wore seemed to sense her transformation; the morning light filtered through the thin fabric, outlining the undulating curves of the young girl's budding breasts. A dark green sash cinched her slender waist, and with each step, the hem of the garment rippled gently. She walked barefoot on the sun-baked, scorching earth, a string of small silver bells jingling softly with every step—a quiet, subtle accompaniment to some hidden rhythm.

Even the wind seemed to favor her, carrying the lingering scent of night-blooming jasmine, lingering around her hair and the hem of her clothes.

She walked on, transforming in a single step from a blank, lifeless, pale woman into a walking, living Shakti (female divine power)—sweet, passionate, and full of irresistible, submissive allure.

Suleisa's gaze locked onto the sweating figure in the hospital, the captivating green in her eyes growing even deeper. She quickened her pace, yet maintained a dance-like lightness, heading towards Li Wei without hesitation.

"Salma!"

The sweet voice rang in Li Wei's ears again.